Brandon University students union backs off anti-abortion group on campus
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/08/2016 (3346 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
BRANDON — An anti-abortion group has won its fight to keep an officially recognized presence on the Brandon University campus.
The Brandon University Students Union reversed its decision to revoke the club status of Students for Life, ending court action. The club will be recognized in the 2016-17 school year.
“It’s kind of sad that it had to come to legal action, but I’m happy,” said SFL president Catherine Dubois.
SFL filed a lawsuit against the union this month, alleging it revoked the club’s status in November 2015 and didn’t advise the group until Jan. 22, when SFL was denied the right to set up an information table on campus.
Without club status, SFL could not book meeting rooms unless it paid fees. It also couldn’t receive union services.
SFL appealed at a Students union council meeting Feb. 12, where the revocation was upheld.
On behalf of the club, the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms filed an application in Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench, seeking a court order for the union to reinstate the club.
The matter was settled Monday.
Justice centre president John Carpay said he’s pleased.
“The student union should never have removed club status from this group…and (it) was quite clear the only reason why they removed this club’s status was because the student union did not like, or did not agree with their opinions.”
The union told the group their message made some students feel “uncomfortable and intimidated.”
The club faced the same issue in the 2012-13 school year, when the union denied it official status. The justice centre got involved, and the decision was reversed under threat of court action.
Carpay is hopeful the issue won’t return in three years when the union has new representatives. “People need to realize that freedom of expression includes the right to say unpopular things and controversial things.”
The union wouldn’t comment.
— Brandon Sun